Repeat after me: Larussa's not a genius

Let's go back to 1989. The A's have Dave Stewart, one of the greatest big game pitchers ever, Dennis Eckersly, best reliever in the history of baseball, Mark McGwire, and Jose Canseco when he was the best player in the game. Fire Larussa, and begin the filming of, Ernest Manages the A's. The A's still win the World Series.

The late 80's A's prompted baseball experts to call Larussa a genius. A genius would have won at least one game against the Red Sox this year. A genius would have beaten the Reds in 1990. Unfortunately for Cardinal fans, Larussa thinks he's a genius, so he doesn't put his best available hitter at DH, he pitches Morris on short rest when not forced to, he uses HectorLuna as a pinch hitter for the most important at bat of the season, and he wears sunglasses during night games. He does this because he thinks his thinking is better than conventional thinking.

Then again, the sunglasses thing could be a tribute to Corey Hart.